To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

Robert Donnell Bone (1832-1892) was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, and came to Nacogdoches County in 1841 with his mother and stepfather. He and his brothers and sister moved in with his older sister when she married John Winstead Paine in 1846. After a serious illness of pneumonia, R. D. Bone rode horseback to Tennessee and entered the University at Nashville Medical School (which later became Vanderbilt University) in 1854 and returned to Douglass, Texas, to practice medicine after graduating in 1858. That same year he married Griselda Minerva Burk (1841-1912) who was also from Tennessee and had moved to Nacogdoches County, Texas, with her family in 1848. On November 25, 1861, Dr. Bone was appointed to serve as Assistant Surgeon of the 12th Texas Volunteer Infantry, Col. Overton Young's Regiment at Camp Hebert, Hempstead, Austin County, Texas. He felt it was his duty to serve the cause of the Confederacy and eagerly attended his post. As revealed in the following letters exchanged with his wife while on active duty in the Civil War, it soon became clear that he would have to contend with inadequate provisions, boring camp routine and confusing orders. "The Fever", dysentery, measles and exposure were Dr. Bone's patients' main medical problems; his regiment was not involved in any serious fighting. When he resigned his commission on March 7, 1863, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, he went back to Douglass, Texas, to practice medicine. Dr. Bone also bought cotton and cattle and took them to New Orleans each fall to be sold. Minerva was Post Mistress in Douglass from 1866-1867. Only six of the Bone's 12 children reached adulthood, and two of their sons graduated from the University at Nashville Medical School exactly 50 years after Dr. Bone did. At least eight of his descendants have followed him in serving the medical profession. (Aiken, Roy L. (Pete). "Bone Family." In Nacogdoches County Families, 172. Dallas, Tx.: Curtis Media Corporation, 1985.)

Scope and Content Note

Included in the collection of letters between Dr. Bone and Minerva are letters to the Bones from family and friends, report forms from the post office at Douglass, and two poems (probably written by Dr. Bone). Typescripts for most of the papers in the collection are in a booklet in Box 2. Several 19th century newspapers belonging to Dr. Bone are cataloged and shelved with the newspaper bundles.

State of Texas Nacogdoches Co March the 23 1862 Dear Dr Bone I received your letter yestard [sic] evening dated the 17 I was glad and sorrow to heare [sic] sutch [sic] news. I don't know what would be for the best but I dont want you to join for the war I dont think that is write [sic] the way tha [sic] ar [sic] a doing it looks like it's two [sic] hard I think twelve months is a long time for you to be gone it looks mity [sic] hard to see men leave their wifes [sic] and Children and homes and then to be done that way but it may be writ [sic] that it should be so if it be the case I hope the good lord will be on our side faster and luazer [sic] Come to Pas yestard [sic] evening and stade [sic] all knight [sic] went up to see Mary to day I went with them tha [sic] went home this evening honey you dont know how sorrow I felte [sic] for them and their sweete [sic] little babes tha [sic] are sweet and dear to them like ours is us and you know it is hard for them to have to part tha [sic] are to start next Saturday I want to go and see them start if can but I dont know it will be a bout getting off this the 27 of March I am well Watson and Winsted is well know Wason [sic] was sick last weak [sic] I recond [sic] it was worms that aileded [sic] him Winsted is a begining [sic] to notis [sic] a write [sic] smart and laugh and hollow and squall I heard him down to the loom hous [sic] this evening honey he is a prety [sic] little boy sense [sic] his eyes has got well he is a good little boy I think some times I wish you Could see them and see how sweet tha [sic] look and tha [sic] are smart two O how good I love them because tha [sic] are yours and the love I hav [sic] for you is more than I can tell if I Could I would give the world for you and you alone it goes hard with me to do without your presance [sic] if I could meet with you I would be happy but if we dont mete [sic] in this world I hope and pray wee [sic] will meet in a happyer [sic] one and then wee [sic] will be happy I know honey pray for us our lives is uncertain but I hope if it is the good lords will wee [sic] will meet again and be happy there is a write [sic] smart of excitement here about the war I here [sic] that the negroes say that tha [sic] are a going to rise when this regment [sic] gets of up here at Jim town I herd [sic] some say that there was thirty or forty a drilling one nother [sic] up their [sic] close to a widow women house she herd [sic] them a talking tha [sic] sed [sic] tha [sic] was agoin [sic] to give the Jim town felows [sic] a fight that tha [sic] chat down here tha [sic] is a mity [sic] stir made when Mr Whitaker and Norvel was fixing to start I think there will be danger here if eny [sic] more men leaves I dont want you to join for the if you can help it if you do come home and see me if you can your preshes [sic] face to me is worth ever thing elce[sic] in this word I want you to wright [sic] often as you can Pa has a few chills here this weeke [sic] Ma complains as usuly [sic] the rest is weell [sic] except Cis she has has the chills O may the good lord be with us untill [sic] wee [sic] meet again may god bless you my Dear good by my love a kiss for you G. M Bone

Rights

This item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is available for non-commercial research and education. For permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the East Texas Research Center at asketrc@sfasu.edu.